‘Perfect storm’ piles on woe for holidaymakers

BRITISH holidaymakers faced “a perfect storm” of travel misery yesterday, as the great summer getaway was hit by striking French ferry workers, bad weather in the Channel and “migrant activity” in Calais.

Even those who managed to cross the Channel hit clogged roads along the French and Spanish borders as striking French farmers brought traffic to a standstill with cavalcades of tractors in protest at cheap imports.

The British government warned that those due to pass through Calais in the coming days should prepare for further possible disruption as a result of a combination of industrial action and “migrant activity”.

The chaos created further opportunities for the 5,000 illegal migrants in the French port to try to board lorries to the UK.

Around 10 have died over the past two months after climbing on to trains or lorries.

Transport chiefs warned that the UK’s freight industry was losing £750,000 a day and Eurotunnel has asked the British and French governments for £7million compensation for disruption caused by the migrants.

Last night, the Foreign Office said: “We are working closely with the French government to seek an urgent return of normal services.

We have also increased security and Border Force operations at the port.